NOAA Announces Closure of the Northern Gulf of Maine Scallop Management Area
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NOAA Fisheries is closing the Northern Gulf of Maine Scallop Management Area to all federally permitted limited access general category scallop vessels effective 0001 hr, on May 26, 2022. As of May 26, 2022, no scallop vessel fishing under federal scallop regulations may fish for, possess, or land scallops in or from the Northern Gulf of Maine Scallop Management Area. The scallop regulations require that we close this area once we project that 100 percent of the 2022 default total allowable catch for this area will be taken. The closure will be in effect until the end of the fishing year, March 31, 2023. If you have declared a trip into the Northern Gulf of Maine Scallop Management Area using the correct Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) code and have crossed the VMS demarcation line before 0001 hr, May 26, 2022, you may complete the trip and retain and land scallops caught from the Northern Gulf of Maine Scallop Management Area. Exemption for Maine and Massachusetts Vessels Fishing Exclusively in State Waters If you have a valid Maine or Massachusetts state scallop permit, you may continue to fish in Maine or Massachusetts state waters within the Northern Gulf of Maine Scallop Management Area under the State Waters Exemption program. If you are fishing under an Individual Fishing Quota scallop permit (Limited Access General Category A), any pounds landed under a state waters only trip will still be deducted from the vessel’s allocation. For more details, read the notice as filed in the Federal Register and the permit holder bulletin.
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Questions? Fishermen: Contact Louis Forristall, Sustainable Fisheries, 978-281-9321 Media: Contact Allison Ferreira, Regional Office, 978-281-9103 |
